I completely agree. It's like saying that if Buick goes under and stops making big, floaty, grandpa boats, Lincoln will stop improving its own floaty boats and raise prices. The reality is, just as there are many other kinds of automobiles (other than floaty boats) competing for buyers' dollars, there are many other telescope designs (beyond SCTs) doing the same. There's no shortage of competition. Company's that fail to win business deserve to lose. It's the American way.

They copied Celestron a decade after Celestron had revolutionized reflecting telescopes and virtually buried Meade's quaint old Newtonian and imported achromat business. I'd rank Meade as more of a "competitor" than "innovator" and not a competitor averse to knocking off rather than investing in novel designs. Though the LX200 *mount* was truly innovative. Unfortunately it carried a derivative/knock off OTA design.

I just read in another thread how an owner could not get parts from Orion to repair a drive gear. Others commented on how this is policy for both Meade and Celestron. I am considering buying a new 14" cat next month and this, if true is very disturbing. Does anybody have 1st hand knowledge of this?

I think Meade has put out it's fair share of interesting products. Actually a bunch of them that I would be happy to own. I think Meade has taken a lot of chances, maybe more than Celestron. A fair number had problems. But looking at my short list here, I would be happy to own any of these, even the RCX. It's bit over-engineered, but very cool.

I also own Celestrons, but I had no complaints against Meade--until I recommended an AR-5 to a friend back in 2002. The optics were great--but the experience with the mount, and (which is what matters) Meade's customer service, was so bad it alienated my friend to astronomy, and convinced me (who, being more experienced, was the one communicating with Meade) to not trust them again. I think that others are in the same emotional boat albeit with different products, and this, more than the Edge HD vs. ACF superiority issue, may be why Celestron is doing better today.

What might convince me to try Meade again? A consistent stream of good customer service experiences, and consistent reports of good quality control and products that work. Even then, there would have to be a fall-off in Celestron quality before I would bother.

I just read in another thread how an owner could not get parts from Orion to repair a drive gear. Others commented on how this is policy for both Meade and Celestron. I am considering buying a new 14" cat next month and this, if true is very disturbing. Does anybody have 1st hand knowledge of this?

Not sure about Meade's current policy. Celestron does sell spare parts.

The impression I get is that Meade sell dreams, by which I mean that they tell you about the excitement you will feel using their products.

Chris

Well, that's true to some extent for everything beyond butter and eggs...

Meade has produced some excellent telescopes over the years.

In the 80s, the 2080s and their LX3/5/6 descendants were not always as good as Celestrons optically--though sometimes they were, and sometimes they were better--but they almost always brought some innovation to the table. I've always bought Celestron, but I am well aware if John Diebel's company hadn't been in there competing, we'd probably still be using AC drive-spur gear scopes.

In the 1990s, the LX200 hit a home freaking run. While it was only somewhat of a technical advance over the Compustar, it was AFFORDABLE. The ETX was another huge hit and a great scope. So was the LX90.

Turn of the century...the LX200GPS was, for once, Meade playing catchup...and it stuck in a lot of folks' craws that they tried to even the playing field with lawsuits. From there, it was downhill for 'em IMHO. The RCX 400 was a great idea, but it was very poorly executed. The failure of the RCX coupled with the financial realities that came with Meade being a publicly traded company have left them struggling to get up from the canvas these days. Given the seriousness of the business climate for them, I am ASTOUNDED that they let the LX800 and 80 out the door without both being fracking perfect.

Still, while I've often been called "a Celestron man," I am rooting for old blue. I am not immune to their siren song...I came THIS CLOSE to ordering an RCX. Sometimes in the dead of night, I shudder over that. Other times I am sorry I didn't. Go figure.

I just read in another thread how an owner could not get parts from Orion to repair a drive gear. Others commented on how this is policy for both Meade and Celestron. I am considering buying a new 14" cat next month and this, if true is very disturbing. Does anybody have 1st hand knowledge of this?

Orion does not sell parts to second owners. Meade seems to be in flux, sometimes they have parts available, sometimes they don't, but when they do they will sell them to anyone. Celestron will sell parts to anyone in the US. In each case, the parts available are limited to certain parts. No one has a parts list where they will sell any part of their equipment.

According to Meade's supposed official policy is no parts for sale. Celestron will sell SOME parts. When I contacted them about a part for my tripod they told me they ddon't sell parts and would have to buy a new one. I only needed a spreader. Can't comment on Orion as I have not needed any replacement parts from them.

Wow. I'm always fascinated by the Meade Celestron debate. I own both and find both to be of good quality. I think having completion is good for the consumer. Many complain of the current Meade debacle with the delayed shipping of new products. On the other hand I purchased a Edge 9.5 which is a great scope but I've been waiting for over a year for a focal reducer to use it with imaging and still no word. When you think of it it's longer than I've been waiting for the Meade LX859 and LX600 to come out. Overall I think the competition between the two only benefits us. I currently won both brand scopes and sincerely hope the best for both companies.

I own a C8 and a M10 and really like them both. I only hope that Meade gets back on their feet and dont go under. I considered selling my 10" Meade and got an offer but decided to keep it. The problem I have with Meade is that they want you to ship the entire scope back for repair instead of selling you a replacement part. I seriously do hope things work out for them because they do offer quality products and the competition with Celestron is good for all of us!

If Meade came upon financial troubles, it would be purchased, probably by some company on the Rim, for its brand alone (not making any comment on the quality of its products, myself).

Sorry to say, it already has, and only some legalities have kept it from being bought by someone... which at this point would probably be the best thing for them, though it would likely mean foreign ownership.

I feel Meade became too much of a marketing company. I have had plenty of their products and been pleased, but they really elevated the hype back in the 90's, and I don't think it did anybody any good. My experience with their customer service worked out well for me but resulted in so much wasted time and money on their part that I couldn't understand how they could operate in such a fashion. I hope they pull through but like Celestron, they probably won't be our all-American company by the time it all plays out. Glen

If Meade came upon financial troubles, it would be purchased, probably by some company on the Rim, for its brand alone (not making any comment on the quality of its products, myself).

Sorry to say, it already has, and only some legalities have kept it from being bought by someone... which at this point would probably be the best thing for them, though it would likely mean foreign ownership.

I feel Meade became too much of a marketing company. I have had plenty of their products and been pleased, but they really elevated the hype back in the 90's, and I don't think it did anybody any good. My experience with their customer service worked out well for me but resulted in so much wasted time and money on their part that I couldn't understand how they could operate in such a fashion. I hope they pull through but like Celestron, they probably won't be our all-American company by the time it all plays out. Glen

Given their small number of U.S. employees, I wouldn't call them an all-American company now.

If Meade came upon financial troubles, it would be purchased, probably by some company on the Rim, for its brand alone (not making any comment on the quality of its products, myself).

Sorry to say, it already has, and only some legalities have kept it from being bought by someone... which at this point would probably be the best thing for them, though it would likely mean foreign ownership.

I feel Meade became too much of a marketing company. I have had plenty of their products and been pleased, but they really elevated the hype back in the 90's, and I don't think it did anybody any good. My experience with their customer service worked out well for me but resulted in so much wasted time and money on their part that I couldn't understand how they could operate in such a fashion. I hope they pull through but like Celestron, they probably won't be our all-American company by the time it all plays out. Glen

Given their small number of U.S. employees, I wouldn't call them an all-American company now.

They havent been for some time now. They've been in Mexico for a good while.

Rod,Is there any truth to the story of a brain drain from Celestron to Meade back in the late 1980s? I had heard about 10 years ago that the folks who designed the Compustar were the same folks who designed the LX200.

So I am considering purchasing a new 14" LX850 in about a month. Apart from service. I have come to the conclusion that both Meade and Celestron offer very similar products. I love the form factor of the LX850 compared to the Edge but my concerns are 1st Meade's financial ability to deliver and 2nd, spare parts. I understand that Celestron will sell spare parts but I am not sure about Meade. Should I just call Meade and tell them my concern with after sales support? Does anybody have knowledge of their history in this regard? For instance, if there is a motor that I know is bad, can I just order a new motor? Sending the whole scope in for repair is not a practical solution unless Meade picks up that cost?

Getting parts from many manufactures has been a recurring problem. I've had at least four epsiodes with Meade's customer service in recent years and all four went about as smoothly as I would expect when dealing with high tech gear over the phone and through the mail. Each time I've been happy with the service and outcome. On one occassion I needed a replacement part and I was told that they generally don't supply individual parts. However, a few days later the part showed up and my door... no charge. My standard mode of operation with any company is to be kind and patient unitl I have reason not to be kind and patient.

If'n it were me I would not hesitate to order a product from any reputable manufacturer (Meade or otherwise). However, I would be careful to run it hard through its paces for at least the first couple of weeks to make sure that everything works. These things tend to either die right away or to live forever.